ANKARA - French Minister Delegate for European Affairs Claudie Haignere met Yasar Yakis, Chairman of Turkish Parliamentary Adjustment Commission for the EU, on Monday.
Sources said that French referendum about Turkey's EU membership and position of France regarding the so-called Armenian genocide were discussed during the meeting.
Yakis told Haignere, ''it is not possible to understand and explain why France is going to hold a referendum about Turkey's EU membership. Such a referendum will not be held for countries which will join EU in 2007 and for Croatia which is in the same situation with Turkey.''
Commission member Onur Oymen said, ''referendum is something against Turkey. We understand internal policy requirements of France but Turkey does not want to pay the cost. The referendum will affect negatively Turkey's membership (to the EU), as well as Turkish-French friendship.''
Haignere said, ''French government is willing to ask for the views of its citizens about Turkey's EU membership. Turkey should pursue reforms which it has fulfilled until today.''
Meanwhile, Oymen said, ''during our visit to France, people we met said if Turkey does not recognize the alleged Armenian genocide, it will not join the EU. This may affect Turkey-France relations negatively.''